In the longest running rivalry in California Community College football, the Fullerton Hornets defeated the Santa Ana College Dons 21-13 in the 89th Key to the County Game.
The 89th meeting of this long-standing rivalry was also the first game of the 2011 season.
The Hornets (1-0) struck first on their first possession of the game, capping off a five-play, 51-yard drive with a 27-yard pass from Matt Goggins to Collin Floyd. Fullerton's drive took just 2:03 off the game clock.
The Dons (0-1) answered at the end of the first quarter, driving 56-yards in just five plays highlighted by a 55-yard reception by Roger Mujica from Andrew McDonald on the first play of the drive. However, Mujica was tackled on the one-yard line.
After being stopped on three-straight plays, McDonald found Josh Webb for a two-yard touchdown reception, pulling the Dons within one at 7-6. The score remained 7-6 after a botched snap on the Dons point-after attempt.
Both teams stalled out of the half with Fullerton finally getting an offensive surge late in the third quarter. That drive carried into the fourth quarter when Kelvin York ran in a two-yard score to extend the Hornets lead to 14-6.
York, last year's Key to the County Most Valuable Player, scored again for the Hornets with another two-yard rushing tochdown. That touchdown capped off a clock-eating, nine-play drive that chewed up nearly five minutes of game time as Fullerton took a 21-6 lead.
The Dons continued to push and took advantage of Fullerton penalties as Davion Orphey ended a 13-play drive with a one-yard touchdown run to cut Fullerton's lead to 21-13.
After a late defensive stop, the Dons got the ball back with less than two minutes left on the 15-yard line. However, just two plays later, Justin Bernthaler sacked McDonald and Ioane Gauta recovered for the Hornets, sealing the win.
With the victory, Fullerton now leads 44-41-4 all-time with its fifth-straight win in the series and 10th in the last 11 meetings. York repeated as the Most Valuable Player with 127 yards on 28 carries and two touchdowns.
Gauta was named Fullerton's Most Valuable Player with the game-sealing fumble recovery. Orphey was named Santa Ana's Most Valuable Player with 60 yards on 13 carries with one touchdown. He also had four tackles, three solo and a pass break up.
By Jason Kehler
Mr. Kehler is the Sports Information Director at
Santa Ana College
Photo by Matt Brown
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